Residents in a Lincoln Court neighborhood say a dumpster that three local businesses use is causing a rat infestation in the area that has caused upwards of $100,000 of damage to local homes.

"The smell in the yard is so horrendous you canít even spend a minute out on the deck," Lincoln Court resident Donna Doherty told the Advertiser last week. "I canít open up the windows of my house without the stench coming in. I canít let my two grandchildren out in the yard ó itís devastating."

Doherty has been pulling dead rats from her property for weeks, and said hundreds of them have been spotted in her yard so far.

"One of the rats I saw was almost the size of my cat," she said. "The other day coming home from Boston for a doctorís appointment I thought they were in my car. I just canít take it anymore."

The dumpster where the rats are allegedly coming from sits on the property of the Banana Splitz ice cream parlor around the corner on Lincoln Avenue, which is also shared by a nearby Subway and a Dunkiní Donuts.

A lawyer who represents two homeowners sent a letter to the three businesses and asked them to move the dumpster and reimburse the residents for damage caused by the rat infestation.

Attorney Marc Chapdelaine told the Advertiserís news partner WCVB Channel 5 that the stench of dead rats poses a health risk, but thatís only part of the problem ó itís causing damage to the homes. The rats have made their way under a pool and whirlpool spa, and under decks.

According to the WCVB report, Chapdelaine said in the letter that the damage to filter pipes requires the removal of the pool and whirlpool spa, as well as the removal of the decks to get rid of the decaying rats.

Giacalone said that as of press time he had not been on the Dohertyís property, but questioned whether a dumpster such as the one on the Banana Splitz property could cause such a large-scale infestation.

"There have been cases of businesses not maintaining dumpsters, and that can lead to rodents, but not as bad as the extent we have here," he said. "In a case like this we urge the residents to take responsibility and properly maintain their homes as well, but without examining the property we canít say for sure."

Page 2 of 2 - Giacalone said he did watch the WCVB report that aired last week, and that some red flags were seen on homeownersí property.

"There was a part of the broadcast where you could see a large piece of plywood being lifted off the ground, and you have to question why that plywood is there, as thatís also the type of thing that could lead to a nesting ground for rodents," Giacalone said, adding that he wasnít even sure which property the plywood footage was taken from. "Iím not saying where the problem is coming from, but we have to look at everything before we make a decision. It can get complicated."

No matter the outcome of Giacaloneís meeting with business owners this week, he said he will do whatever is necessary to make sure the problem gets resolved.

"Weíre actively working on a solution and we are most certainly not taking this situation lightly," he said.

A manager with Banana Splitz who wished to remain anonymous said the business is also hoping the situation can be resolved quickly.

"Weíve been working very closely with town officials and have been told that the problem may not be on our end," the manager said. "We truly donít believe that we are the source. Iíve lived in Saugus for 20 years and have worked here for the past eight, and I take great pride in this business."